Disabled members

UNISON’s priorities on disability are led by the union’s own disabled members. We help disabled members by fighting discrimination and campaigning and organising at workplace, regional and national levels.

There are more than 10 million disabled people in the UK. Cuts to public services and benefits have a disproportionate effect on disabled people, especially as over one and a half million of them live in relative poverty because of low benefit levels and the lack of suitable accessible jobs.

UNISON’s disabled members’ group fights discrimination and campaigns for improved workplace accessibility and other issues. Find out how we campaign and organise at workplace, regional and national levels.

This section is about the key issues affecting disabled members. Each key issue explains the facts behind the issue, what UNISON is doing and how you can get involved. You will also find news articles, useful resources and events.

UNISON’s 1.3 million members include full-time and part-time staff working in local authorities; the NHS; police and justice; universities, colleges and schools; the electricity, gas and water industries, transport, the voluntary sector and private companies. Two thirds of our members are women.

Related events

National meeting for all UNISON LGBT Disabled members National Disabled Members LGBT Caucus Network Days Free event with lunch provided. Travel costs met nationally. Meet other LGBT disabled members, including your reps on the National Disabled Members Committee. These meetings have been arranged to allow space for members from under-represented groups within disabled members self […]

National meeting for all UNISON Deaf (BSL) members National Disabled Members Deaf Caucus Network Days Free event with lunch provided. Travel costs met nationally. Meet other Deaf members, including your reps on the National Disabled Members Committee. These meetings have been arranged to allow space for members from under-represented groups within disabled members self organisation […]

National meeting for all UNISON Disabled Women members National Disabled Members Women’s Caucus Network Days Free event with lunch provided. Travel costs met nationally. Meet other disabled women members, including your reps on the National Disabled Members Committee. These meetings have been arranged to allow space for members from under-represented groups within disabled members self […]

National meeting for all UNISON Black Disabled members National Disabled Members Black Caucus Network Days Free event with lunch provided. Travel costs met nationally. Meet other Black disabled members, including your reps on the National Disabled Members Committee. These meetings have been arranged to allow space for members from under-represented groups within disabled members self […]

National meeting for all UNISON Deaf (BSL) members National Disabled Members Deaf Caucus Network Days Free event with lunch provided. Travel costs met nationally. Meet other Deaf members, including your reps on the National Disabled Members Committee. These meetings have been arranged to allow space for members from under-represented groups within disabled members self organisation […]